Alan Poorter started his education at DPHS...:

and then arrived at DHS with the class of 1960.  He joined the class of 1961 for only two years, in 5th and 6th form. Classmates remember him as an amiable, thoughtful boy with a kindly and courteous demeanour.

After school, Alan studied engineering.  He took the National Engineering Diploma (specializing in electrical engineering), and a Diploma in Datametrics from the University of South Africa.

Alan married Coral Druce in 1965:

Alan and Coral had three children,  Susan, Stephen and Martin.

Alan worked for the SABC through 1965, and from then until 1967 for SAPPI, a wood mill and wood products company. Then, from 1968 until 2000, he worked as an engineer for Eskom, the national electricity provider.  Alan left the organization before incompetence and corruption led to the collapse of South Africa's power supply, but his insider knowledge of the industry left him in particular despair over events.

Alan and Coral enjoyed regular international travel.   Here they are in Italy in 1982:

They were especially fond of Switzerland, which they visited seven times over the years.  One of the highlights of these trips was in 2009, when Alan went on a tandem paragliding flight over Interlaken.

Alan followed the activities of Class of 1961 with great interest.  He attended our 50 year reunion in Durban in 2011, where he was delighted to connect again with old comrades, some of whom he had not seen in half a century.  Here he is at the reunion reception, chatting with John Bartlett:

And, at left, at a table at the Grand Reunion Dinner:

Alan had hoped to attend our international functions in Morocco in 2018 and in Israel in 2022, but unfortunately he had a series of health problems from 2011 on. 

Alan had three surgeries in in 2011 and 2012 for complications from a blocked intestine.  During that period he was in hospital for almost six months, part of the time in a medically induced coma.   More surgeries and complications followed in subsequent years, and there were only two of the years between 2011 and 2023 when he did not spend some time in hospital.   Alan bore all these gruelling episodes with characteristic courage and a calm spirit, sustained by his deep Christian faith and the unfailing love and support of Coral.  

In late 2023. Alan had unexplained weight loss. He was hospitalized again at the end of 2023, but passed away in Pinetown on 1 January 2024 from complications of an infection.

Alan Poorter is survived by Coral, his wife of 58 years; his sons, Stephen and Martin; and his eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  Sadly, his daugher Susan passed away in 2022.

There will be a memorial service for Alan at Christ Church, Meller Road, Pinetown, at 14h00 on Wednesday 10 January 2024

[Special thanks to Alan's son Martin for his help with this In Memory notice]